NEW YEARS !

Tomorrow is going to be New Year'! I still cant believe that 2011 is almost over and soon it will be 2012! I was watching an Indian Talk Show and they are talking about different New Year traditions around the world. As they were discussing about all these different countries I was really surprised with all the traditions! For example: In Brazil, priestesses of the local macumba voodoo cult come out and do some rituals. That is very different from what the American culture does during New Years, which is to just party together/have fun/etc. Not only that but while I was thinking about all these New Year traditions, I realized that the Indian culture has a very different tradition too. Our New Years is called Ugadi and it is on March 23.  On that day we usually pray/party/have fireworks/etc :)


Even though everyone around the world has different New Year traditions, we all still do something called, "making resolutions".


I never end up following mine but maybe this year I will! 


Anyway,
HAPPY NEW YEARS! 

Christmas Traditions

The past few days have been really hectic. I had no time to do anything and I still have bunch of homework that I have left to do. If we care so much about time,why is it that almost everyone in our culture is a procrastinator? Anyway, not only that but my sister's friend who lives in Spain, called us few days after Christmas and as we were talking, I realized that their Christmas traditions are really different from ours. It is amazing that where you live and the culture you are involved in influences the ways a person celebrates their holidays.

TIME

I was doing my homework today and I realized how I hated wasting time. When I was in India last summer, I remember how annoyed I was at everyone just wasting their time. I mean its like they had nothing to do!  For example: My cousins who were in college obviously had a lot of homework but I never saw them doing any of it. Every time i saw them, they were either talking to their friends, watching tv , and hanging out with the family. I even asked them about it and they didn't care much about it . They said that the time doesn't matter and they will get it done eventually. I wasn't the only one who felt so annoyed at everyone but my parents also told me that they felt everyone was just wasting their time doing nothing useful. I mean they get their work done eventually but still! After remembering this incident and after learning everything about "time"  in the class I realized that this was just another aspect of the culture in India.

Technology is taking over!

Technology is taking over our lives. I was on the computer today at around 11 and the next thing i knew it was already 2. I mean I don't even know how I wasted so much time!. We as a culture try to do things in the fastest method possible to save "time", and because of that we created many different inventions that enable us to do things quicker then we can manually do but what we don't understand is the fact that technology is taking over our lives! People are closer to their laptops then their own family. Some people i know take pictures not for the memories but for Facebook. Because of our cultural importance for time and efficiency we are letting technology/internet  take us over day by day.

CANT WAIT TILL CHIRSTMAS!

Ahh! Christmas is so close yet so far away! I can't wait! The music, the lights, the decorations even the ad's on T.V. are already making me want Christmas to be here already! Everybody loves Christmas! It is the one of the few holidays where people can take a break from their busy time oriented lives and relax with the family! Our culture is very time/work oriented and that results us having a busy life but holidays like Christmas are one of the few holidays that let us truly relax and have a great time with our family! The warmth of the fire, the smell of peppermint, and the christmas movies on t.v. just add to the fun and relaxation! No SCHOOL! is another big plus! I really can't wait till christmas! Only 21 more days till relaxation and fun!

hahhaa <3 Christmas

A Day of Thanks in Our Busy Lives

It is nice to know that in our busy work oriented culture we actually have an holiday to spend time with family. American culture is usually busy and work oriented but amazingly Thanksgiving is the day that everyone puts their stress aside and spends their time with their family and friends. This is the one day where we all come together and be thankful for what we have. Thanksgiving is not only celebrated in American but is also celebrated is many other places with a slightly different tradition. Every autumn, the ancient Greeks enjoyed a three-day festival to honor Demeter, the goddess of corn and grains. The Romans had a similar celebration in which they honored­ Ceres, the goddess of corn. The Roman celebration included music, parades, games, sports and a feast, much like modern Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is an holiday that is almost in every culture with slightly different traditions and meanings but no matter what culture it is in, we can definitely say it is one of the few holidays that relieves an individual from their cultural stress and lets them spend wonderful time with their family and friends.

Volunteering at the Veterans Hospital!

Not every old person is a fountain of wisdom but, as a society, western countries generally don't have a lot of respect for older people. I volunteered at the Veterans Hosptial yesterday at around 6 and it was really fun! I started volunteering there since an experience from Red Cross and I must say that everyone ( old and young ) are so sweet and kind. While on my way back from the hospital I started to wonder why USA or any developing country has the need to send their parents or any old member of their family to a nursing/retire home? I mean I know most of the patients at the hospital and most of the time their family doesn't even come to visit! This is very different from the culture in India; in India it is the children's responsibility to take care of their parents, even after they are married, but in some parts of the world some children just put their parents in retire homes! I know that they might be busy doing their job and etc but still! I mean their parents worked so hard to take care of their children but their children don't return the favor when they grow up but instead they send them to nursing homes! This might be the result of different cultural values : India values family a lot and I know that developed nations like the USA are very work oriented but still..I don't understand how a person can do that, I mean I feel horrible if I don't visit the hospital at least once every 2 weeks while some of the patient's family members don't even take care of them. :(

Time takes over our lives!

I tried the day without time project that we were assigned in clsss and I am still doing it now and I must say.. it's pretty hard. I mean everywhere I look there is time- on the phones,microwave,tv,computer,etc.- it seems like you can NEVER get away from it. Currently I don't know what time it is but my daily activities like eating dinner at a specific 'time' are giving me a sense of idea. Not only that but even though I covered all of the appliances that show time, my family still has the urgency to check their phones every 30 mins to see what 'time' it is and what they should be doing by then. I never knew how much time influenced our lives before this. I feel so weird to not know what time it is or how much of the day has gone by. You can never get away from time no matter how much you try because sooner or later you will look at what time it is and let it control you again.

Nation of Givers

America is known as the Nation of Givers and I have to agree with that. More then any other country in the world, America is known to give to many other countries and people. A large majority of U.S. citizens donate money each year to houses of worship and charitable organizations. Most estimates place the percentage of American households that make monetary contributions each year at 70 to 80 percent, and the average American household contributes more than $1,000 annually. We are known to develop many foundations such as Red Cross, PETA , etc. but what is ironic about this is that we are also the nation is fighting the longest war in the American history : The Iraq War. Some aspect of our culture is teaching us to care for others while our patriotic side is propelling us to fight.

Halloween

Halloween is almost here and everybody;young or old are looking forwarded to the day. Americans take part in Halloween by trick or treating or just having parties, where as Halloween for other countries like Romania : revolves around "Dracula". Every country depending on their culture and lifestyle celebrate their holidays in different methods and ways. Some countries don't even have holidays like Halloween or understand why other countries have them. My friend's grandparents came from India few days ago and when they went shopping here, they were very surprised at all the Halloween decorations. When my friend tried to explain to them the concept of Halloween and dressing up as monsters/other characters; they couldn't understand why we would do such a thing. Indians being a spiritual and very superstitious would have never made an holiday like this because of their culture. We have holidays were the demons' were destroyed by God but never a day dedicated to the monsteres/ghosts/etc alone. This event made me realize how a person's culture and lifestyle influences their holidays and their methods to celebrate certain things.

Colleges.

Future. We all worry about it. Today, while checking my mail, I saw a letter from a college informing us about all their new programs,activities,etc. Even though I won't graduate until 2 years later, my parents are already starting to worry about it. We as Americans plan ahead. We try to prepare for the future and not waste any time. I am only in 10th grade but I am already receiving letters from colleges all over the country. This proves how time & controlling our "future" really influences our lives as Americans.

What we are!

Yesterday, after the pep rally, my friends and I went to mall and we were just looking through everything. By the time we finished buying everything we needed, I started to realize how materialistic we are. I noticed how some us brought so many things we didn’t even need. sNot only that but I also realized how strict we are on time. We all kept checking our watches, and stayed only until a certain point in each store and we managed to fit everything we needed to do in the certain time schedule. When one of my friend’s mom was late to pick her up, she was freaking out on how much time is being wasted and how she had things to do. As Americans, we are, we out knowing time oriented, and a little materialistic if not a lot.

You have a cellphone?

n today’s world, many people find it shocking that a person doesn’t have a cell phone, I find it shocking that they do. A few days ago, I went to the Indian Fest at the Bob Carpenter’s Stadium in UD, and there I met this little girl. She was around 7-9 and I was worried when I couldn't find her mom. I didn’t have my cell phone with me and I couldn’t call her mom. I was explaining this to her when she suddenly says that I could use her phone to call her mom. I was shocked. I mean, how would you feel when a 7 year old tells you that you can use her phone? At first, I did not believe that it was her phone, but rather it was her sisters’. After meeting up with her mom, I found out that the phone was really hers! It wasn’t an emergency phone, but rather a normal everyday use phone. I was in confusion, I mean I had to BEG, pled, pay, and work for my phone and this 7 year old just got hers. I didn’t not have a phone until 9th grade! Not only that, but she also has numbers of her friends in her phone! Her mom told me that sometimes they call/text each other. Wow, is our culture so technologically advanced that even kids as young as 7 have a phone? I then started to realize how much of big influence technology is becoming to the newer generations. Everyone has a small device of technology that they carry around with themselves wherever they go. Whether it is a phone or an Ipod, we can all defiantly say that technology has now become a part of our lives.

Humans & Pets: Is the love too much?

Today, when I was reading a magazine I came across a very interesting article called, “I divorced by husband to be with my pet.” As crazy as it sounds, it was a true story about a woman who had a German Shepherd and when her husband wanted to sell it; she divorced him. His reasoning was logical. Since the recession, the couple was having a hard time providing food for themselves and for the dog. So, one day the husband thought it would be a good idea to give the dog to their family friend, who they’ve knew for years. His wife on the other hand completely disagreed. What is even more interesting is that, the couple was married for 5 years, and they just got the dog 4 months ago. It was sad knowing that the wife chose her dog of 4 months, over her husband of 5 years. After reading this, I started to realize that most Americans value pets a lot more than many other cultures around the world. Many societies don’t own pets, and even if they do, it is usually a dog. As Americans on the other hand, we own MANY various types of pets. We range from simple household animals such as dogs to owning birds, mice and even snakes! When I first came to America in 2003, I had to leave my dog behind, and it was a heartbreaking time for me. After getting an opportunity to go over a friend’s house, I was excited since not only was she was my first friend, but also because I knew she had many pets. Therefore, when my friend invited me over to her house to play with her “pets,” I naturally expected her to have two dogs and not what I saw! She had three parakeets, eight fishes, two dogs, one bunny, and a cat. I thought I was in a very different world! I never saw anyone having bunnies, fishes, parakeets, and especially cats when I was in India! (Mainly cats, because cats were known to be “bad luck” or “evil” in the Indian culture). After seeing all the various types of pets, I started to realize how much the American culture values animals! They treat them as their own family whereas most pets in other countries are treated more as a responsibility then as family! I mean we even have their personal beds, clothing, and hospitals for them.


However, even though we treat animals with such care, I also feel as things sometimes get a bit out of hand...

Read this quote for example:

In the United States, 63 percent of households include a pet (up 7 percent since 1988), and pet lovers spent $38.5 billion on their pets in 2006 (up from $21 billion a decade earlier). Americans now spend several billion dollars more on dog and cat food than they do on baby food.

In San Francisco, pet owners – "pet guardians" according to city ordinance – outnumber children nearly 2 to 1


Wow! I mean having pets isn’t a bad thing! I love animals, but sometimes I wonder if things are getting out of hand. Sure pets can be a good thing, their used as aid for the blind, therapy for the lonely, and even as company for elders. I also think things are getting chaotic when pets start to outnumber children, when married couples split up because of their pet. In addition, when people spend more money on pet supplies then they do on their needs.

For example: In 2006, her family pet, a golden retriever, accidentally strangled a 6-year-old girl to death because her family didn’t see the dog as a threat than it really was.

Sometimes, I feel as if we love our pets so much, that we don’t see the hidden dangers that lay around them.

Am I saying that having pets is bad? No, of course not! I love pets! Although, I am saying that we have to look at the statistics once in a while, and think if we are going a little overboard when we start having to choose between pets over humans.

Arranged Marriage...or Love Marriage?

* No bias or offense intended*

Today, My mom and I were watching an Indian movie where the actors fell “in love”, and were experiencing some problems with their family. We were happily watching the movie until my sister said one thing, “ Those parents are so mean, why don't they just leave them alone. Stupid arranged marriages”. When she said that one sentence, I knew things were going to go chaotic. My mom turned to her and gave her a 2 hour lecture about how love marriage is stupid and how arranged marriages are more traditional. Well, first of all, let me make my opinion a little clearer. What I say is that, in today's world in India, more people are getting love married, and even though I think they should have their right to marry whoever they want, I don’t think they should get carried away.

Look at this dictionary definition of ARRANGED MARRIAGES:

Arranged marriage starts from a fundamentally evil premise - that any parent or relative has the moral and legal right to force someone to marry against his or will, or to prevent him or her from marrying for love.

Oh come on, what century are you living in? Its totally not like that. In these days, when the guy/girl tells their parents that they are ready to get married and are willing to think about arranged marriages is when its called, “ arranged marriage”. The guy and the girl get to chose and are NOT forced to marry some random guy that they met 3 days ago.

I believe, that today, in India, an arranged marriage probably has a greater chance of being successful than a love marriage, and there are statistics to prove this. In India there is a lower divorce rate then there is in the USA. It might be because America is unrestricted and the women here are more free to do whatever they want but it wasn’t until I came to the US did I ever hear the word “divorce”, and when I heard of it, I was pretty surprised. Not only that, but divorce is also a Taboo in Indian culture. What every Indian women says is that no matter what happens, you can not leave your husband, or your family.

Unless it is one of those SUPER RARE cases, where the guy and the girl are super educated, and their families have a great reputation, are arranged marriages approved. (Education is the only loop hole any lovers in India can find. Unless both of them are amazingly educated, and their families have a good reputation is there any chance of their marriage being approved by their families).


In India, its all about reputation. That is one of the main reasons why Indian families are so strict. They care about their reputation. That’s why love marriages are such a taboo in India, its because of the gossips that spread from it. Not only does it spread gossip, but it also affects the guy/girl's chance of finding a good person to be arranged with. Arranged marriages have become such a big part of Indian lives that there are even websites that are based on it too. The websites are intended to help you find your “groom” or “bride” depending on what your preferences are. I am not saying that I am against arranged marriages, but I am not agreeing with it either. So I usually let the person decide on what their opinion on arrange marriages are, and that is the main reason why I did this blog. It is to clear up the confusion that many people have on this controversial subject of "arranged marriage".

My Not so Great Weekend.

When people ask “How your weekend was?”, they usually expect a normal response like: “It was okay”, but when people started to ask me, I really don't think they expected my answer. On Saturday, exactly at 4:00 pm my house caught on fire. How? Well, let me just say, I have not so bright neighbors who decided to leave their stove on and walk out. So let me just tell you how it all started. I was home alone and in my bedroom watching a movie, when I smelled something burning. I looked out of my bedroom balcony (which by the way was on the 3rd story) and saw smoke coming out of my neighbors window. At first I thought they burnt some food and what not, but later the smell got worse. After 10 mins or so, I was on my way to neighbors to check if everything was alright, and just when I opened my bedroom door, it was all smoke. I live in a town house, so in a way my neighbors’ house and mine are connected. It was pitch black and the smoke had already engulfed my house. I ran back inside my bedroom and into the balcony . People started to scream and the firefighters came. I tried to find my phone which I later remembered was left downstairs on the kitchen table. Some people even suggested for me to jump! I mean did they think I was Spider man or something?! I was on the 3rd story and jumping from it would defiantly mean that I was going to break more then one bone . Just as I thought all hope was lost, a firefighter came and told me to get on the ladder he was putting up. I first hesitated, I mean your expecting a person who is scared of heights, to climb over her balcony fence and onto a ladder that seems not trust worthy to hold my weight? I don't think so. But in the end I didn't have a choice. So I somehow made my way down the ladder and back to safety. Luckily after 2 hours of standing in the cold with nothing but pajamas and no shoes on, everything was over and no one was hurt. But the worst part was yet to com. The most terrorizing part of the whole experience was not the fire but it was explaining to my parents what happened to our house when they came home from work. A few minutes later after everyone left, my parents finally came home or what WAS their home to be welcomed by a beautiful mess. Luckily, my house wasn't damaged as much I thought it would be, and only a part of the ceiling broke off but even after explaining , I really don't think my parents are ever going to leave me home alone......ever, even though it was not my fault! So how does this all relate to culture ? As, Mrs.Lober said, culture is all around us. Later that night, I started to think about India and what would happen if this fire occurred there. The firefighters probably would have come after the whole thing was over or even if they came at the peak of fire, it would have taken them hours to put it out. I started to realize how much the American culture values safety of the people, and time. They get things done fast and don't waste any precious time. They also value the peoples life and make sure that no one is hurt.

September 11, 2011 -- The 10th Anniversary of 9-11 - We Will Never Forget

We Remember - 9/11 --- Anonymous

Tears fell down my cheeks,

As I watched the people run,

Disappearing into the smoke,

Screams ringing in my ears.

The thoughts ran through my head,

But I couldn't gather anything,

I stood there as innocent people died,

Gave their life for something that wasn't true.

Paper and debris dancing in the wind,

Bloody faces came from the rubble,

Filled with horror and sadness,

Tears still fell.

Children clung to their mothers legs,

Asking why God let this happen,

Unable to answer they just held onto their children,

Praying quietly for the ones in the mess.

Sirens echoed over the screams,

It seemed like the people where moving in slow motion,

As I stood there and watched,

Keeping silent.

A man fell to his knees and called out to God,

Asking him to save him,

Did God answer?

Many of us won't know.

Many watched in horror as the towers fell,

Some in there homes as they started their day,

Not thinking that morning would be the beginning of hurt and war,

The beginning of a time of grief and despair. 

Children in schools all across the country listened in horror,

Scared and unsure of what to do,

Grasping onto their friends in fear,

Thinking this was the end.

Year after year we stand in silence on that day,

That changed our lives and our country forever,

Remembering the horrific sight of something great fall,

Those towers were more than just skyscrapers,

They were the meaning of this country.

Together we rise.

Together we fall.

Today is September 11, 2011, even though it is a decade later, the imprint of the event never left our hearts. Together we stand here today, not as an individual but as a nation which strongly marches forward. We cry as we remember about what changed our lives. That one event that changed our culture and community into making us truly appreciate our loved ones, freedom and security more than ever. Since this event, we all came together and became one. We taught ourselves to appreciate those who risk their lives everyone for us in battles, fires, and wars. And to those who died in the horrid tragedy, to the people that died in the Pentagon, to the brave people who ran inside the towers, and to the children that were orphaned because of this, let God watch over us and keep us safe from harm, and let him give us the strength and courage to stand as a nation, as a family and as one.